The Charles County Board of Education appointed two vice principals to serve as principals at St. Charles High School and the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center.

Richard Conley, a vice principal at Henry E. Lackey High School, was appointed as principal of St. Charles High School, scheduled to open in August 2014.

Wayne Freeman, a vice principal at the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, was appointed as principal at Stethem and will replace Thomas Weirich, who plans to retire at the end of June.

Conley said he is honored that he was selected as a principal, especially at Charles County’s newest high school.

“Being selected to serve as the principal of any school, let alone St. Charles High School, is an extreme honor, and I am deeply grateful to Mr. [James] Richmond and the members of the board of education for the confidence that they have shown in me. The vision for St. Charles High School as a center for science, environmental education, 21st-century instructional technology and collaborative learning is one which I am excited to work with students, staff, parents and community members to help make into a reality,” Conley said in a news release.

Freeman said he is honored just to be considered for a principal position.

“It is my honor and privilege to accept the appointment as principal of the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center. I have had the pleasure of working with outstanding teachers, staff, administrators and stakeholders who have helped to shape my destiny. I stand committed to working with all secondary schools in the delivery of instruction for students needing a cohesive educational program,” Freeman said in the release.

Conley began his career with Charles County Public Schools in 2003 as a Spanish teacher at Westlake High School, and was named a vice principal at Lackey in 2008. He has a bachelor’s in foreign language and government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and has a master’s of science in administration from McDaniel College.

Freeman joined the school system in 1986 as a pupil personnel worker and served at several county schools until he was named a vice principal at Thomas Stone High School in 1996. He transferred to General Smallwood Middle School as a vice principal in 2002 before joining the Stethem staff as a vice principal in 2006. He has a bachelor’s in social sciences from Oakwood College, a master’s from Bowie State University in guidance and counseling, and a master’s in school administration from California State University.

Wilson named science center director

The board also approved the appointment of Monique Wilson, the coordinator of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for the public schools, as director of the science center at St. Charles High School.

Wilson will oversee the use of technology at the school, including the Digital Classroom and Science on a Sphere, and will coordinate STEM-related opportunities for the school and the county.

She began her teaching career with Charles County Public Schools in 2001 as a science teacher at Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. She taught science at Mattawoman Middle School from 2003 to 2007 and transferred to Theodore G. Davis Middle School when the school opened.

In 2009, Wilson took a position at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building as an instructional specialist. In 2010, she was named the coordinator of STEM education for Charles County Public Schools. She has a bachelor’s in earth science and secondary education from Kent State University, and a master’s in administration from McDaniel College.